Aardman Unveils First Image From Nick Park's 'Early Man'

The prehistoric animation film, due out in 2018, heralds the long-awaited return of the multi-Oscar winning 'Wallace and Gromit' director.

Nick Park is back!

The Oscar-winning animator and creator of the much-loved Wallace and Gromit films has — after more than a decade away — returned to the director's chair.

Work on his latest feature, Early Man, has now begun at Aardman's studios in Bristol in the U.K., with the first image — and a short video — unveiled showing the film's hero Dug and his sidekick Hognob.

Set in the prehistoric era at the dawn of time, Early Man follows plucky caveman Dug — voiced by Eddie Redmayne — as he unites his tribe against the mighty Bronze Age in the first-ever game of soccer. It marks Park's first feature since 2005's Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at an Aardman event last week, co-founder Peter Lord hailed the return of Park, saying he was a "safe pair of hands."

StudioCanal is producing, alongside Aardman, and is handling worldwide sales alongside distributing in its own territories of the U.K., Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand.